Super Admins can create an unlimited number of Categories in which to group their organization's idea submissions and any feedback that the idea submissions receive. The Categories that you create are unique to your account; so, you can customize them according to your preferred:
- naming conventions,
- grouping logic, or
- whatever "system" of grouping works for your organization.
Using Categories simplifies the overall management of idea submissions in your community because similar ideas can be grouped for easier comparison in order to:
- determine whether there are duplicates and
- set priority levels for the ideas.
Categories notes
When a user submits an idea, the user can choose which Category to associate with the idea.
Categories is an optional, but recommended, feature. Super Admins can:
- configure Categories to be mandatory upon idea submission via the Set Category as a required field checkbox on the Ideation Settings page.
- If this option is unchecked, ideas can be submitted without a Category being associated.
- change which ideas a Category is associated with.
Watch the video
NOTE: This video offers a comprehensive look at Ideation. Ideation Categories are discussed starting at 00:14:19.
Access your list of Categories
- In the Admin Toolbar, click Admin.
- Navigate to Feedback > Ideation > Categories.
The Ideation Categories page is where you create and manage your account's Categories.
TIP: On list pages, click a column header to sort on that column; click again to reverse the sort order. Click the columns count below the list to add and remove columns in the current view.
Create a Category
- Click the plus sign to the right of the page title.
- On the dialog:
-
- Specify an appropriate name for the Category (required).
- Check the box to make the Category Active. A Category has to be Active in order to available to be applied to an idea.
- Click Save.
- Review the list and verify that the new Category is listed.
Your new Category is now available for selection when ideas are created and edited.
Manage Categories
You can manage your Categories in order to ensure that your Ideation program functions smoothly for Admins and for users.
The Category management options are above the list:
Select a Category to enable the management options; then click:
- Edit to change the name of the Category and set whether it's active.
-
Delete to delete the Category.
NOTE: Refer to Deleting a Category, below, for important information before deleting a Category.
Delete a Category
A Category can be:
- associated to one or more ideas OR
- not be associated to any ideas.
Whether the Category is associated to any ideas determines how you can proceed with the deletion.
Not associated to any ideas
If the Category is not associated to any ideas, click Delete on the dialog to confirm the deletion:
The Category is immediately deleted and no longer displays in the list.
NOTE: You cannot "undelete" a Category. If you want a Category with the same name, you must create a new one.
Associated to one or more ideas
If the Category is associated to any ideas, when you attempt to delete the Category, you are alerted to the fact that it is associated to one or more ideas.
You can:
- Click Delete to proceed with deleting the Category.
- Click Cancel and navigate to the Ideas list page to manage the Category's associations with ideas.
For guidance on how to disassociate a Category from one or multiple ideas so that you can delete the Category, see the section, Manage an Idea's Categories, in Manage your Site's Ideas.